Patent Application
20230194325
The present disclosure relates generally to crop transport receptacles and related transport vehicles for receiving crops during an unloading operation performed in association with a harvester and, more particularly, to systems and methods for detecting the fill-level of a crop transport receptacle using switch-based sensors.
Harvesters or harvesting machines pick up crop material, treat the crop material, e.g., remove any undesirable portions or residue, and discharge the crop material, Harvesters can discharge the crop material, either continuously as with a forage harvester or after intermediate storage as with a combine harvester, to a transport or transfer vehicle. The transport vehicle may be a tractor or truck pulling a cart, wagon, or trailer, or a truck or other vehicle capable of transporting harvested crop material. The harvested crop material is loaded into the transport vehicle via a crop discharging or unloading device, such as a spout or discharge auger, associated with the harvester.
During the performance of an unloading operation from a harvester to a transport vehicle, it is generally desirable to monitor the fill-level of the associated receptacle of the transport vehicle. In this regard, various vision-based systems have been proposed that utilize cameras to capture images of the harvested crops within the receptacle and then subsequently employ computer-vision techniques to process the images in an attempt to calculate or estimate the fill-level of the receptacle. However, such vision-based systems are often very complex and expensive and typically require significant computing resources to process and analyze the images in an efficient manner, particularly for “on-the-go” unloading operations.
Accordingly, systems and methods for monitoring the fill-level of a crop transport receptacle that address one or more of the issues present in the prior art would be welcomed in the technology, including, for example, systems and methods that provide a simpler (e.g., including less resource intensive) and/or more cost effective means for monitoring the fill-level within crop transport vehicles.
Aspects and advantages of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for monitoring crop fill-levels of transport receptacles. The system includes a crop transport receptacle defining a storage volume configured to receive harvested crops, and a plurality of switch-based fill-level sensors positioned within the storage volume of the crop transport receptacle. The fill-level sensors are arranged in a sensor array such that each fill-level sensor is spaced apart both vertically and horizontally relative to one or more other fill-level sensors of the plurality of fill-level sensors. In addition, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fill-level sensors, with the computing system being configured to monitor a fill-level of the crop transport receptacle based on data derived from the plurality of fill-level sensors.
In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a transport vehicle for transporting harvested crops. The transport vehicle includes a traction device and a crop transport receptacle provided in association with the traction device, with the crop transport receptacle including a plurality of walls at least partially defining a storage volume configured to receive harvested crops. In addition, the transport vehicle includes a plurality of switch-based fill-level sensors positioned within the storage volume of the crop transport receptacle, with the plurality of fill-level sensors being provided on at least one wall of the plurality of walls of the crop transport receptacle in a sensor array such that each fill-level sensor is spaced apart both vertically and horizontally along the at least one wall relative to one or more other fill-level sensors of the plurality of fill-level sensors. The transport vehicle also includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fill-level sensors, with the computing system being configured to monitor a fill-level of the crop transport receptacle based on data derived from the plurality of fill-level sensors.
In a further aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for monitoring a crop fill-level of a transport receptacle. The method includes receiving, with a computing system, data from a plurality of switch-based fill-level sensors provided within a storage volume of the transport receptacle as harvested crops are being received in the storage volume, with the plurality of fill-level sensors being arranged in a sensor array such that each fill-level sensor is spaced apart both vertically and horizontally relative to one or more other fill-level sensors of the plurality of fill-level sensors. In addition, the system includes monitoring, with a computing system, a fill-level of a plurality of different storage zones defined within the storage volume of the transport receptacle based on the data received from the plurality of fill-level sensors, with each fill-level sensor of the plurality of fill-level sensors being associated with a respective storage zone of the plurality of different storage zones.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present technology, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present technology.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In general, the present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for monitoring the fill-level of crop transport receptacles, such as the fill-level of a receptacle associated with a transport vehicle that is configured to receive harvested crops from a harvester during the performance of an unloading operation. In several embodiments, the system may include one or more fill-level sensors provided in association with a crop transport receptacle and a computing system communicatively coupled to the fill-level sensor(s) for monitoring the fill-level of the receptacle based on the data received from the sensor(s).
In accordance with aspects of the present subject matter, the system may include a plurality of switch-based fill-level sensors provided in association with a crop transport receptacle. Specifically, in several embodiments, the switch-based fill-level sensors may be provided in a sensor array within the storage volume of the crop transport receptacle across one or more walls of the receptacle such that each fill-level sensor is spaced apart both vertical and horizontally from one or more other fill-level sensors of the array. For instance, the sensor array may be arranged such that fill-level sensors are provided in various vertically oriented columns and/or horizontally oriented rows and/or that the fill-level sensors are scattered across the associated wall(s) of the receptacle in a more randomized or non-uniform manner. Regardless, by providing a sensor array within the storage volume of the crop transport receptacle as described herein, the disclosed system may be configured to monitor the fill-level of individual storage zones or regions within the crop transport receptacle, thereby allowing the fill-level to be monitored in a more granular, refined manner, while still providing a simple, cost-effective means for fill-level monitoring.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the harvester 10 is configured as a combine, such as an axial-flow type combine or any other suitable type of combine. In such an embodiment, the harvester 10 may include, for example, a chassis 12 and a plurality of ground engaging elements (e.g., front and rear wheels 14, 16) supporting the chassis 12 relative to the ground. In addition, the harvester 10 may include various components coupled to or supported by the chassis 12, including, but not limited to, a header 18, a feeder housing 19, an operator's cab (not shown), various internal crop processing systems and/or sub-systems (e.g., a threshing and separating system, a cleaning system, and/or the like), an internal crop storage tank 20, and an unloading tube or spout 22. The unloading spout 22 may, for example, be configured as an unloading auger, belt conveyor, chain elevator, and/or the like. Regardless of the type, the unloading spout 22 is generally configured to facilitate the transfer of harvested crops from the internal crop storage tank 20 to the transport vehicle 40 during the performance of an unloading operation. In other embodiments, it should be appreciated that the harvester 10 may have any other suitable harvester configuration, such as by being configured as a forage harvester.
In general, the transport vehicle 40 may include both a traction device 42 and a crop transport receptacle 44. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the traction device 42 corresponds to a work vehicle, namely an agricultural tractor. However, in other embodiments, the traction device 42 may be a truck or other self-propelled vehicle sufficient to carry or tow the transport receptacle 44. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the crop transport receptacle 44 corresponds to a wagon. However, in other embodiments, the transport receptacle 44 may be a grain cart, bin, or other similar storage/transport receptacle. In another embodiment, the transport vehicle 40 may be a semi-trailer truck, tractor-trailer or other similar self-propelled container vehicle.
As particularly shown in
Additionally, in several embodiments, both the harvester 10 and the transport vehicle 40 may include on-board computing systems and associated wireless communications devices. For instance, as shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
In several embodiments, each fill-level sensor 102 may correspond to a switch-based fill-level sensor positioned within the interior of the crop transport receptacle 44. For instance, each fill-level sensor 102 may be configured as a contact-based pressure switch positioned on an inner surface of the crop transport receptacle, such as the inner surface defined by one or more of the walls 56, 68, 60, 62 of the crop transport receptacle 44. In such an embodiment, by positioning each switch-based fill-level sensor 102 at a given location within the crop transport receptacle 44, the sensor 102 may be configured to detect when harvested crops begin to accumulate within the receptacle 44 at or adjacent to the location of the sensor 102. For instance, when the harvested crops contact or push/press against a fill-level sensor 102 as the crops accumulate at or adjacent to the sensor 102, an internal circuit of the switch-based sensor will close (or open), thereby providing a signal (or a lack thereof as an indicator that the harvested crops have reached the level of the sensor 102 within the receptacle 44. Moreover, as will be described below, by providing an array of vertically and horizontally spaced switch-based fill-level sensors 102, the fill-level of the crop transport receptacle 44 can be monitored with more granularity. For instance, the switch-based fill-level sensors 102 may be arranged in a given pattern or array such that the fill-level of the receptacle 44 may be monitored across multiple different individual zones or regions.
Additionally, as shown in
In general, the computing system 110 may comprise any suitable processor-based device known in the art, such as a computing device or any suitable combination of computing devices. Thus, in several embodiments, the computing system 110 may include one or more processor(s) 112 and associated memory-device(s) 114 configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions. As used herein, the term “processor” refers not only to integrated circuits referred to in the art as being included in a computer, but also refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s) 114 of the computing system 110 may generally comprise memory element(s) including, but not limited to, a computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), a computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a floppy disk, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements. Such memory device(s) 114 may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the processor(s) 112, configure the computing system 110 to perform various computer-implemented functions, such as one or more aspects of the methods or algorithms described herein. In addition, the computing system 110 may also include various other suitable components, such as a communications circuit or module, one or more input/output channels, a data/control bus and/or the like. For instance, the computing system 110 may include a communications module or interface 116 to allow the computing system 110 to communicate with any of the various other system components described herein, such as the fill-level sensors 102. Specifically, as shown schematically in
It should be appreciated that, in several embodiments, the computing system 110 may correspond to a stand-alone computing system configured to monitor the fill-level of the crop transport receptacle 44. In such embodiments, the computing system 110 may, for instance, be configured to communicate data related to the fill-level of the transport receptacle 44 to one or more separate computing systems, such as by communicating the data to the on-board computing system of an associated transport vehicle and/or harvester (e.g., on-board computing systems 70, 74 shown in
In several embodiments, based on the monitored fill-level of the crop transport receptacle 44, the computing system 110 may be configured to initiate one or more control actions during the performance of an unloading operation to adjust the operation of a related transport vehicle and/or harvester (e.g., the transport vehicle 40 and/or harvester 10 described above with reference to
It should be appreciated that the computing system 110 may be configured to initiate control actions to adjust the relative position between the transport receptacle 44 and the unloading spout 22 in any suitable manner. For instance, in one embodiment, control actions may be initiated by transmitting the fill-level sensor data (or the current fill-level as determined based on the sensor data) from the computing system 110 to a separate computing system (e.g., the on-board computing system(s) 70, 74 of the transport vehicle 40 and/or the harvester 10), at which point the separate computing system may be configured to process/analyze the sensor data and transmit control signals for executing a suitable control action(s) to make a desired adjustment(s) in the relative positioning between the transport receptacle 44 and the unloading spout 22, including the transmission of control signals associated with instructions or requests for executing the desired adjustments. In other embodiments, the computing system 110 may be configured to process/analyze the sensor data and subsequently transmit, itself, control signals for executing a suitable control action(s) to make a desired adjustment(s) in the relative positioning between the transport receptacle 44 and the unloading spout 22, including the transmission of control signals associated with instructions or requests for executing the desired adjustments.
Referring now to
It should be appreciated that the specific pattern or array of fill-level sensors 102 shown in
As another illustrative embodiment,
Referring back to
It should be appreciated that, although fill-level sensors 102 have only been shown in the illustrated embodiments as being installed on a single receptacle wall, the sensors 102 may be installed on any combination of walls 56, 58, 60, 62 of the receptacle 44. For instance, referring back to
Referring now to
As shown in
Additionally, at (204), the method 200 may include monitoring a fill-level of a plurality of different storage zones defined within the storage volume of the transport receptacle based on the data received from the fill-level sensors. For instance, as indicated above, in one embodiment, a plurality of different storage zones 104 may be defined within the transport receptacle 44, with each fill-level sensor 102 being associated with a respective storage zone 104. In such an embodiment, the computing system 100 may be configured to monitor the fill-level of each individual storage zone 104 based on the data received from the respective fill-level sensor 102.
It should also be appreciated that the disclosed method 200 may also include initiating a control action to adjust a relative position between an unloading spout of an associated harvester and the transport receptacle based on the monitored fill-level of the plurality of different storage zones. For instance, as indicated above, the computing system 110 may be configured to initiate a control action to adjust the relative positioning between the spout 22 and the receptacle 44 to ensure a desired distribution of the harvested crops within the receptacle 44 and/or to follow a predetermined fill strategy for the receptacle 44.
It is to be understood that the steps of the method 200 are performed by the computing system 110 upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the computing system 110 described herein, such as the method 200, is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The computing system 110 loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the computing system 110, the computing system 110 may perform any of the functionality of the computing system 110 described herein, including any steps of the method 200 described herein.
The term “software code” or “code” used herein refers to any instructions or set of instructions that influence the operation of a computer or controller. They may exist in a computer-executable form, such as machine code, which is the set of instructions and data directly executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, a human-understandable form, such as source code, which may be compiled in order to be executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, or an intermediate form, such as object code, which is produced by a compiler. As used herein, the term “software code” or “code” also includes any human-understandable computer instructions or set of instructions, e.g., a script, that may be executed on the fly with the aid of an interpreter executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller.
This written description uses examples to disclose the technology, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the technology, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the technology is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
